On 5 June 2020, ECTA and WIPO held a virtual meeting to discuss topics of mutual interest and importance on:

• the Madrid Operations during the recent COVID 19 related shutdown and other matters relevant to the Madrid System;
• the Standing Committee on Trade Mark and Developments within the Lisbon System of Geographical Indications;
• recent developments with the Hague Registry;
• other related topics and questions raised by ECTA members.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry attended the Bilateral Meeting, along with other WIPO colleagues, ECTA President, Head of Legal Affairs and WIPO-Link Committee representatives.

ECTA is extremely grateful to WIPO and ECTA members for the willingness to discuss ways to improve Global IP systems, especially during the many Bilateral Meetings we have held regularly over the past years.

We would also like to thank all participants for their flexibility to adapt to a different (virtual) format for this meeting than the one initially planned, due to the current difficult circumstances.

We look forward to further fruitful collaboration with WIPO and continuation of the open dialogue we have established together.